Anchor Pottery.—Messrs. Sampson Bridgwood, & Sons, who are extensive manufacturers, first carried on business in the Market Street Works, and next for many years at a manufactory in Stafford Street, originally occupied by G. Forrester, which was purchased by the late commissioners of Longton, and pulled down for the erection of the present market buildings. They then removed to their present works, the “Anchor Pottery,” where they produce both china and earthenware. In china all the usual tea, breakfast, and dessert services are made, partly for the home, but principally for the United States and Canadian markets. In earthenware they produce largely the white granite for the United States, Australian, and Canadian trade, and they also produce for the home market. One of their specialities is what is technically called “Parisian granite” (stamped as “Limoges”), which is of fine hard durable body and excellent glaze. In this ware, tea, breakfast, dessert, dinner, and toilet services are largely produced; many are of excellent design. The marks used are, on china, an impressed stamp of the name “S. BRIDGWOOD & SON.” The Parisian granite bears the impressed stamp, an oval, with the word “LIMOGES,” and in the centre P. G. (for Parisian granite). It also bears the printed mark of an elaborate shield of arms with mantling, sceptres, &c., and the words “PORCELAINE OPAQUE,” “BRIDGWOOD & SON.”
Dresden Works, Normacott Road, established by Mr. John Proctor.—These works, after being worked successively by Messrs. Glover & Colclough, and Messrs. Goodwin & Bullock, came into the hands of the present firm of Mason, Holt, & Co., in 1858, since which time they have been much enlarged. All the usual tea, breakfast, dessert, and other services, in china of excellent commercial quality, are made, both for home and foreign markets.
Dresden Works, Stafford Street.—These works were established by Mr. John Ferneyhough, and in 1858 passed into the hands of Messrs. Shelley & Hartshorne, who were succeeded by Messrs. Adams & Scrivener, who in turn were again succeeded by, in 1866, John Ferneyhough, who manufactures all the usual varieties of services, &c. in china of good quality.
Palissy Works, Chancery Lane.—These works were erected in 1862, by Mr. R. H. Grove, for the purpose of decorating, not manufacturing, china ware. In 1867 he retired, and was succeeded by his son, Mr. Fredk. Wedgwood Grove, and his partner, Mr. John Stark, who continued them for decorating purposes alone until 1867, when they commenced manufacturing, having increased the premises for the purpose, and erected the necessary kilns and machinery. They manufacture earthenware only. In this all the usual dinner, dessert, toilet, and other services and domestic articles are produced, and of all degrees of decoration, from plain and printed up to enamelled and gilt varieties. Some of their more beautiful patterns are the “Hindoo,” “Arabesque,” and “Shell,” and these are made in a variety of styles of more or less richness in detail. Spirit and wine show-barrels or casks are also specialities.
Minerva Works, Fenton.—In 1812 these works were held by Charles James Mason & Co., the producers of the famous “Patent Ironstone China” (which see), and from them passed to Messrs. Pratt & Co., who were succeeded by Mr. Gerard (or Jerrad) and Mr. Richard Hassall. About 1833 or 1834 Mr. Hassall was joined in partnership by Mr. Thomas Green (son of Mr. Thomas Green, of the Churchyard Works at Burslem), of Bank House, Fenton, who produced the common classes of china. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Hassall retired, and Mr. Green was joined in partnership by Mr. W. Richards, of Great Fenton, and the business was continued by “Green & Richards,” until 1847, when the latter withdrew. The business was then continued by Mr. Thomas Green alone, until his decease in 1859; from that date to the present time it has been carried on by his widow, Mrs. Margaret Green, under the trading style of “M. Green & Co.” under the careful management of her sons. The china made by the earlier firms was of the commonest kind of blue figured, white and gold, and lustre wares. During the partnership of Mr. Richards, a variety of ornaments, small ewers and basins, toy mugs and jugs, &c., were extensively made; this trade was, however, checked by the introduction of a similar, but cheaper, class of goods from France. This had a good effect on the firm, for it induced attention to be turned to a better class of productions; and this again was more decisively done in 1851, when goods of a highly creditable character were made. The present productions of Messrs. M. Green & Co. are china tea, breakfast, dessert, trinket, and other services; toy sets; jugs, mugs, feeders, wheel-barrow, and spade salts; and a large variety of other articles, both for home and foreign markets.